Personnel and target locator beacon

ABSTRACT

A personnel and target locator beacon provided with an inflatable helium balloon from a helium storage tank, a beacon mounted in a recess having an illuminating light that is observable only from aircraft and not from the ground when the beacon is supported from the balloon, and a 300-foot line releasable from a storage reel upon the beacon structure being subject to impact or triggered by a releasable button, upon which conditions the reel becomes free to spin, the balloon becomes inflated from said storage tank, and the beacon light becomes energizable.

United States Patent [72] lnventor William E. Schriewer Rt. 2, Box 425B, New Braunfels, Tex. 78130 [21] Appl. No. 672,916

[22] Filed Oct. 5, 1967 [45] Patented July 13,197]

[54] PERSONNEL AND TARGET LOCATOR BEACON 2 Claimsfl Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. C1 325/112, 325/114 [51] Int. Cl. 1104b 1/02 [50] FieldolSearch 325/111,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 651,361 6/1900 Kitsee325/112 2,628,307 2/1953 Lloyd et al 325/114 2,825,803 3/1958Newbrough.. 325/112 2,831,967 4/1958 Bayze I 325/112 2,979,608 4/1961Sirons 325/112 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Griffin Assistant Examiner-R.S. Bell Attorney-Victor J. Evans & Co.

ABSTRACT: A personnel and target locator beacon provided with aninflatable helium balloon from a helium storage tank, a beacon mountedin a recess having an illuminating light that is observable only fromaircraft and not from the ground when the beacon is supported from theballoon, and a 300-foot line releasable from a storage reel upon thebeacon structure being subject to impact or triggered by a releasablebutton, upon which conditions the reel becomes free to spin, the balloonbecomes inflated from said storage tank, and the beacon light becomesenergizable.

PATENTED JUL 1 3 ran SHEET 1 UF 2 m m m N 1 Mwwkw PATENTEU Juu sum3593145 SHEET 2 BF 2 w 5% INVENTOR.

M kV/l/M/V/ fSCHMEn E/Q PERSONNEL ANID TARGET LOCATOlR BEACON Thepresent invention relates to a new and improved personnel and targetlocator beacon and, more particularly, relates to apparatus having asits object a system of apparatus useful for locating pilots who haveejected themselves from their aircraft or who have crash-landed in enemyterritory, especially in wooded areas where it would be possible for theapparatus of the present invention to ascend above the trees andenvironmental vegetation and at the same time not be observed by theenemy.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a beacon that canbe observed by friendly aircraft for pilot recovery, as well as to markhard-to-find target areas.

A further object of the invention is to provide an outside container forthe beacon of the present invention that could be constructed of cork orother lightweight material and is cone-shaped, and wherein the insidecontainer is of lightweight aluminum for allowing easy sliding out ofthe deployed contents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lightweight beacon thatis waterproof, will float, does not burn, and in which the entire deviceis of the general shape and contour of a large ice cream cone or a largesalt water fishing cork.

A further object of the invention is to provide a beacon for use wherehelicopter rescue is being used, such as in Vietnam, and where thefinding oftargets or pilots is difficult.

A further feature of the invention is to provide a homing device whichwould be elevated so aircraft and ships may easily locate a downed pilotor a hard-to-find target.

An additional feature of the invention is to provide a device used as anaid in hoisting the pilot aboard the helicopter. The helicopter wouldfly to the balloon and beacon light, attach the line to a hoist and pullthe pilot aboard, rather than first lowering a line into the jungle orheavy vegetation. The pilot would place the empty container between hislegs and grab the line with both hands during pullup. This wouldprobably out rescue time in half and lessen the chance for thehelicopter to be shot down, since the helicopter would not have to hoverinto place first, drop a cable and then pull up the pilot.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent upon full consideration of the following detailed descriptionand accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. II is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the personnel and targetlocator beacon in accordance with the preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a reduced scale but similar cross-sectional view showing thebeacon in its opened position;

FIG. 3 is a broken-away cross-sectional view of the trigger mechanismand spool or reel mechanism of the beacon of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines M of FIG.

FIG. Sis a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 66 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 77 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a hollow metal conecontainer 10 having an end element R2 at the small end. Mounted withinthe small end of the cone It) is a spherical case 14 for a spinning reel16 on which is coiled about 300 feet of monofilament line 18 and whichis released by a release button 20. FIG. 3 shows the button in itsdepressed position while FIG. 1 shows the button prior to being actuatedfor release.

The free end of the monofilament line 18 is tied to a casing 22 fromwhich depends a spirally configured radio antenna 24 On the casing,there is also the radio circuitry in the form ofa homing device 26, abattery 28. a beacon light 30 and the rotating mechanism or otherrotating beacon means 32 for said beacon light 30, and there isinterposed between the chassis 22 and a support structure 36, a l0-footmonofilament line 38.

In the support structure 36, there is encased a helium tank 40, a neck42, a helium spring valve pin 44; which upon release from the cone 10,is opened for inflating the balloon 46. This is seen to be caused by thepin 44 acting under the pressure of the spring 48 in a manner such thatthe pin 44 is distended 0ut wardly from portion 50 of the cone as thehelical spring 24 causes the chassis 22 and the tank 40 to be removedfrom the inner parts of the cone I0.

The hollow remaining sections 52, 54, 56 may be filled with Styrofoamfor cushioning the construction, and to lend rigidity to the componentsduring use.

The release button 20 upon being depressed releases the reel I 6 and itpushes the beacon construction 22-36 from the cone 10 so that pin Ml isreleased and helium in tank 40 is allowed to feed into the balloon underpressure. The balloon 46 is then inflated as shown in FIG. 2.

In order to hold the releasing mechanism in place after the releasebutton has been actuated, there is a stop 60 that slides into anaperture 62, as shown in FIGS. 4-7, and in which FIG. 5 shows thearrangement prior to insertion of the stop 60 and FIG. 6 shows the stophaving been inserted into the opening 62 upon the button 20 having beendepressed.

Additional embodiments of the invention in this specification will occurto others and therefore it is intended that the scope of the inventionbe limited only by the appended claims and not by the embodimentdescribed hereinabove. Accordingly, reference should be made to thefollowing claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A simple and efficient personnel and target locator beacon comprisinga hollow, inverted truncated cone, a hollow casing secured under tensionfor upward movement within said cone, a light beacon and homing devicesecured within said casing, a helium tank mounted within said cone abovesaid beacon, a deflated balloon mounted within said cone and secured tosaid helium tank, a button mounted within and extending outward from thebottom of said cone, a releasably wound monofilament line mounted withinsaid cone and holding said casing under tension in place within saidcone, said line being released soley by said button when de essed forinstantaneously initially pushing said casing upward to at least aheight where the top surface of said tank is at the level of the top ofsaid cone, means for inflating said balloon, actuating said light beaconand homing device, and causing said casing to rise while remainingattached to said cone, a spinning reel having said line thereon mountedwithin said cone located above and attached to said button, said reelhaving a shaft with a squared cross section extending from one end ofthe axis of said reel, said cone having a vertical longitudi. ..l groovewith squared sides in which the end of said shaft fits preventingrotation of said reel about the axis thereof, said groove ending at thetop thereof with a circular cutout having a diameter greater than thediagonal distance of the cross section of said shaft allowing rotationof said reel when pushed upward by depressing said button so that theaxis of said reel is in alignment with the center of said cutout, theend of said line being attached to the bottom of said casing, and apressure means mounted above said reel with one end against the bottomof said casing, the rotation of said reel allowing said pressure meansto push said casing upward and unwind a portion of said line.

2. The structure of claim I, wherein said means comprises a verticalneck extending from the top of said tank and attached at the top thereofto said balloon, said neck having a single hole between the outer andinner circumference thereof, a longitudinal pin having one end thereofmounted within said hole and said neck completely obstructing airpassage through said neck, the other end of said pin extending out ofsaid neck and resting against the inner circumference of said cone, aspring secured between said neck and said other end of said of said pinslides against said inner circumference as said pin is raised with saidtank upon rotation of said reel causing inflation of said balloon.

1. A simple and efficient personnel and target locator beacon comprisinga hollow, inverted truncated cone, a hollow casing secured under tensionfor upward movement within said cone, a light beacon and homing devicesecured within said casing, a helium tank mounted within said cone abovesaid beacon, a deflated balloon mounted within said cone and secured tosaid helium tank, a button mounted within and extending outward from thebottom of said cone, a releasably wound monofilament line mounted withinsaid cone and holding said casing under tension in place within saidcone, said line being released soley by said button when depressed forinstantaneously initially pushing said casing upward to at least aheight where the top surface of said tank is at the level of the top ofsaid cone, means for inflating said balloon, actuating said light beaconand homing device, and causing said casing to rise while remainingattached to said cone, a spinning reel having said line thereon mountedwithin said cone located above and attached to said button, said reelhaving a shaft with a squared cross section extending from one end ofthe axis of said reel, said cone having a vertical longitudinal groovewith squared sides in which the end of said shaft fits preventingrotation of said reeL about the axis thereof, said groove ending at thetop thereof with a circular cutout having a diameter greater than thediagonal distance of the cross section of said shaft allowing rotationof said reel when pushed upward by depressing said button so that theaxis of said reel is in alignment with the center of said cutout, theend of said line being attached to the bottom of said casing, and apressure means mounted above said reel with one end against the bottomof said casing, the rotation of said reel allowing said pressure meansto push said casing upward and unwind a portion of said line.
 2. Thestructure of claim 1, wherein said means comprises a vertical neckextending from the top of said tank and attached at the top thereof tosaid balloon, said neck having a single hole between the outer and innercircumference thereof, a longitudinal pin having one end thereof mountedwithin said hole and said neck completely obstructing air passagethrough said neck, the other end of said pin extending out of said neckand resting against the inner circumference of said cone, a springsecured between said neck and said other end of said pin, and a stopsecured to said neck and located at said other end of said pin, said pinbeing pushed out of the passageway of said neck, but not completely outof said hole as said other end of said pin slides against said innercircumference as said pin is raised with said tank upon rotation of saidreel causing inflation of said balloon.